When Jiang Yan mentioned freeloading, her father's expression became uneasy. He was, after all, capable of working but hadn't found employment.
"You're moving out? Absolutely not!" Jiang's mother immediately objected. Jiang Yan's earnings were the sole source of income for the household; what would they eat if she left?
"When you used the money I earned to feed our family to lavish on your eldest daughter, you lost the right to say no!" Jiang Yan could not forgive this matter.
Was her family's situation her sole responsibility? If so, she would work herself to death and still wouldn't be able to support such a large family.
"Jiang Yan, how can you speak like that!" Jiang's mother's face turned ashen with anger, her hand slamming on the table.
"I bought those clothes because I just got a new boyfriend, and I needed to buy two outfits for work, and they were both cheap. Do you have to make such a fuss?" Jiang Huan also didn't want Jiang Yan to move out. If she left, how would she get close to Jin Lan?
"Stop arguing, I'll go out and find a job," Jiang's father interjected. "If Yan Yan wants to move out, let her make do with it for now."
The constant bickering between the sisters was a headache for him.
"Dad, you should be resting at home. The job search isn't someone else's burden," Jiang Yan said before walking out.
She had said what she needed to say. If they didn't listen, she truly couldn't do anything more. Jiang Yan felt exhausted and suddenly missed Jin Lan intensely. With him, nothing was an issue, and she felt at ease.
Jiang Yan shook her head, pushing the troublesome family matters to the back of her mind, and took the bus to school.
…
Qi Fan slid his chair over to Ye Wan's side and said, "Ye Wan, I've noticed you've gained quite a bit of weight recently."
Ye Wan was now in her second trimester. She felt the baby was growing at an accelerated pace and was starting to worry. Hearing Qi Fan's words, she knew her internship was drawing to a close.
She couldn't possibly intern with such a prominent baby bump.
"Perhaps I've been eating more lately, so I've gained a little. I'll eat less from now on and try to lose some weight." Ye Wan had no intention of revealing her pregnancy to her colleagues.
"No need to diet. You look perfect now. You were too thin before, but now you look like a fairy, even more beautiful!" Qi Fan's fingers itched to pinch her cheek.
"You look like a fairy now, but what about before?" a male colleague asked.
"Both are fairies. Before, she was a fairy from the Song Dynasty, and now she's a fairy from the Tang Dynasty. Is that a problem?" Qi Fan shot him a glare.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say goes," the colleague replied with a smile and a shake of his head.
Cai Ya, at her own desk, was dabbing makeup on her face with a small mirror, her desk cluttered with high-end cosmetics. She glanced at Ye Wan, who was bare-faced, and almost crushed her newly bought compact powder with brute force. She felt heaven was truly unfair. They were both human, and even though she disliked Ye Wan, she had to admit she was exceptionally beautiful, the kind of woman who looked good no matter what.
In contrast, she herself had to meticulously apply makeup every day.
By ten in the morning, Cai Ya had already slipped away again. The older colleagues were speechless, wondering what this woman would achieve in the future.
Ye Wan received a call from Jiang Yan, who wanted to have lunch together. Ye Wan had a two-hour break at noon, so she agreed on a meeting place with Jiang Yan. When the time came, she took a taxi to get there.
When Ye Wan arrived, Jiang Yan was looking at the menu. She waved happily at Ye Wan upon seeing her. Ye Wan walked over with a smile and sat down, asking, "Have you been waiting long? I don't get off work until twelve."
"No, I just got here too. Let's decide what we want to eat. It's my treat," Jiang Yan said with a smile, handing her the menu.